Commissioner Frank Rader plans to meet with “questioners” and “investigattons” this Wednesday, Aug. 27, from 7-9 p.m. at the Mooresville Public Library.
Rader is coining the meeting “ToM Discourse” and said in his Aug. 22 “Rader At-Large” e-mail that “the discourse is of idea and opinion” and was “born of statements and questions posed by a folk(s) who think I’ve done wrong.”
More specifically, Rader is referring to questions surrounding his recent visits to the Mooresville Police Department to speak with officers even while the town is investigating the former police chief, John Crone, and his Cops for Kids program.
Without the consent or knowledge of fellow commissioners, Rader made “presentations” during regular staff meetings at the police department while Crone was on paid suspension. Rader told officers that Crone’s version of events was the only one that was “making sense.” He also alluded to the officers that they could write letters of support for Crone, as long as the letters were written on personal time, using personal resources. Rader also read excerpts from an anonymous letter that was sent to Crone before the Cops for Kids story broke in the press – a letter that has mistakenly been credited for launching the media scrutiny of the Cops for Kids records. Rader reportedly characterized the letter as being “vile,” and he took it upon himself to also distribute that letter to members of the media.
But Rader conveniently didn’t see fit to distribute to the media or police officers any evidence of wrongdoing on Crone’s part – including a deposit slip showing that cash was moved from the police evidence room into the Cops for Kids fund. (For more information, visit http://thegattonreport.blogspot.com/2008/07/report-spanks-frank-rader-at-large.html and http://thegattonreport.blogspot.com/2008/07/free-speech-or-speech-under-duress.html.)
In fact, Rader has called that evidence “speculation” … even though it led to Crone’s firing. “This is part of speculation (my term) spoken, written and demonstrated by anonymous, though some public, voices,” Rader wrote in his Aug. 22 e-mail. But interestingly, Rader added: “Note: I do not read Web Logs = Blogs.”
He said among the “queries” and questions he expects at the meeting are these:
- "Commissioner Rader took it upon himself to penetrate the sanctity of the police department and inject himself into this personnel/criminal investigation by overtly trying to influence the rank and file police officers."
- ". . . would you find it appropriate for an elected official to attend and make presentations at several recent staff meetings of the police department and apparently share with officers the anonymous letter that was sent to Crone?"
- “Why did you speak with ToM Police about the Cops for Kids investigation and what did you say?”
Rader said he hopes that the meeting “if well attended, will become monthly or quarterly.” He said, “Over time, I hope it becomes a reasoned way to examine and discuss as much ToM information as legally and practically possible.”
Rader continued: “I cannot assure the questioners will attend, though the prime reason for the session is to address their questions and ask them mine.”
It is unclear, then, why Rader plans to start off with a budget discussion. But that’s what he says he’ll do: “I'll come with a prepared discussion of the ToM Budget (yawn) and lead with that, then field what question (sic) may come, subject to NC Statute restrictions (personnel and closed session),” he wrote.
It is also unclear what types of questions Rader plans to ask those in attendance.
Rader went on to say that “an invitation to a specific questioner to attend a ToM Chat has been turned down by a questioner, him or her insisting on email correspondence.” He also stated that “one of the potential questioners is in Time Out for using language not acceptable in Kindergarten and will not be entertained.
“To the extent the questioner insists on questioning,” Rader continued, “it will just consume time.”
While most of us have a very simple "rule" for our elected representatives – that they honestly answer questions and speak to us with respect and candor – Commissioner Rader has established some interesting “ground rules” for the “ToM Discourse” meeting. Here they are:
Rader Rule No. 1
"Questioners and Investigattons must identify themselves by name and town."
Rader Rule No. 2
"Questions are limited to one minute."
Rader Rule No. 3
Rader says that he “will answer all that can be, subject to NC law.”
It is unclear what Rader plans to do to “questioners” and “investigattons” who break his "rules," as he did not delineate consequences or punishment. It can be “speculated” that he’ll place them in Time Out with the other “questioner.”
Rader’s e-mail adds that “ticket (sic) for the event are available at 285-2727.” He did not provide an area code. Rader’s slapstick humor aside, tickets are obviously not needed for the meeting.
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41 comments:
Rader is the biggest dork I have ever seen/heard in my life. How in the world could he name us "investigattons” if he doesn't read the blog? I am going to be there Wednesday. If for anything, it should be the best comedy show I've seen in a long time. Too bad I can't bring a cooler of beer.
I can't wait. Frank is going to wind up and take yet another swing at the Tar Baby.
Please bring tissues, because if it doesn't go Frank's way, a few Rader tears will be shed. Correction, he will tell you "end of conversation," pack up and go home.
It will be quite interesting to see open and honest Mr. Rader will be. Given the fact that he still refuses to say whether or not he will directly answer the questions about his presentations, I don't expect much from him. Do we need to read him the Miranda warning before he answers any qustions?
If he plans on asking questions of those gathered, I wonder if he's going to follow his own ground rules.
The Foundation for Excellence for Education is getting into the golf fundraising business. Can you guess who is on the board of directors of that corporation?
I think the first question that should be posed to Mr. Rader is "Who the hell do you think you are?" We are the taxpayers and you are the elected official, and it is about time you start respecting the status quo. Another thing, if you don't like the status quo, you may feel free to resign and don't let the door hit you between the shoulders! You address anyone who doesn't stand in awe of you or another adult espousing a valid yet opposing point of view, as a petulant child, relugating "folks" to your "time out" designation. But we are civilized "gattonites," who prefer to take the day with ideas and integrity, abiding by the system instead of perverting it. I would suggest Mr. Rader look up the defintion of humility before he goes to that "discourse," because I'm sure he won't have many fans there. I would also suggest that we depose/interview the police officers to find out what Mr. Rader said, and let the SBI determine if there is impropriety in his actions.
***FRANK RADER FLASHBACK***
Setting: The playground at recess
Protagonist: Frank Rader
Antagonist: The rest of the kids aka "the mob"
The recess starts with Frank Rader confronting some of his classmates on the playground.
Frank: I'm smarter than all of you and my grandfather has more money than yours.
The Mob: Just go away Frank, because we really don't care. Why don't you go play with the girls.
Frank: I'm intellectually and physically superior to all of you.
The Mob: Frank, you better quit while you're ahead, now go away!
Frank: If you don't agree with me and let me be President of the club, I'm going to hold my breath till I turn blue and tell the teacher you were mean to me.
The Mob: We told you, so now you get the "wedgie" and pelted with dirt clods.
I'm sorry for this vivid picture, but I was pondering what childhood was like for Mr. Rader, especially knowing how cruel kids can be on the playground. But there is justice on the playground sometimes, so Mr. Rader, on Wednesday night, I hope you don't flashback to your days on the playground. I know you will be pelted with questions, but knowing your superiority, I'm not worried. But I do think a good "wedgie" wouldn't hurt you either.
I think it's a little disturbing that Mr. Rader is setting down ground rules on the length of the questions and the residency of the person asking the question.
Call me crazy....but he works for US. Generally, I don't set the rules for the conversations I have with my boss.
It's unfortunate he "never reads blogs".
Rader will be neither open nor honest. He will be, however, moronic.
I think we should all wear spinning bow ties and use big latin words when we speak.
Now that's not very civil -- you may be put in time out :-)
Frank Rader is a control freak, just like his little buddy the mayor. But to give the devil its due, at least the mayor seems to have an "off" button, which is more than we can say for Rader.
5:13....
While the Mayor may have an "off" button it'd be nice to see someone wake him up and see where he stands in all of this. Does he care if Rader is doing presentations to a captive audience of police officers? I know he can hide behind "I don't want to comment on an ongoing investigation" but surely he has some feelings about a board member trying to influence that same investigation.
Poor Frank. It is so frustrating. Is it his fault we are all so stupid that we just can't understand what his mind comprehends? Didn't he tell us he went to Davidson? that he worked in New York?
Frank definitely went to Davidson College, but he never "worked" in New York. Is he telling people he actually worked in New York?!
Screw Rader AND his dumb rules. He's nothing but a petty little turd with a vote on the town board, thanks to those of us who believed his B.S. and voted for him. How's THAT for "bad language" Frankie Boy?
Do you think there should be some police officers there to control the crowd?.....and to hear what Frank has to say in public?
It is the height of hypocrisy for Mr. Rader to set strict rules of conduct for the public when he was unwilling to set any rules of conduct for the former police chief or for the current interim town manager.
I think he's probably hired a bodyguard.
As I read this particular entry, I could not get over how sanctimonious and foolish Commissioner Frank Rader sounds. Thank you, Ms. Gatton, for exposing the unfortunate nature of this person for all of us to see.
Thanks, Larry
This is a long week and I'm burning it staying up. I'll catch
several of yours, here.
• There is no assurance I will NOT answer any question until it is asked. I will answer all I can.
• I spoke, and consistently speak, with Steve Gambill, ToM Attorney.
I've attended several "Essentials of Government" and other training classes and served on several boards and board committees and been counseled in SEC (Security and Excahnge) rules, so I think I know the bounds.
• The purpose of ToM Discourse (I went back to that name since it better describes the evening) is to drill down into topics with multiple people. ToM Chats are usually none, or one, and skim through several.
• I think I have a Q from about the 1 minute thing and ground rules.
The 1 minute is to maximize questions, allowing drill down. I've watched CSPAN, Rep McHenry and a few others and one person can tie time with a speech and no question. It also means questions probably have some thought behind them to reduce rambling. Advice to elected officials and business officers is to compress time with long answers to reduce questions. I plan to remain on point.
• My preference is one topic, one question. Thus more questions. It is common to hear a question that is complex. Simple is better if simple answers are sought.
• I do not have any pre conceived questions, but may have questions for you or others.
• I plan to do this again, so if we do not get through it , we'll have another shot. (figure of speech, please).
I plan to ask Library to have Audiio Visual (VGA) support so I can plug my computer in to display the Anon and Homesley letters and other stuff including the tax base and budget revenue discussion I plan to lead with. Same equipment available to you.
I plan to lead with a discussion of the ToM tax base and Revenue based on the charts I've done. This will not be long unless there are questions lengthening the presentation. It gets the topic out there and allows for folks who come in late who want to pursue corruption topic.
The hell with the budget, they have already screwed us with that one this year. I want to have answers regarding 1) When the Board/ToM Manager were made aware of possible irregularities involving the Chief of Police and money/evidence,why didn't the Town Manager IMMEDIATLY act to alert the SBI,secure all questionable records/offices,place Mr. Crone on leave, and call an emergency meeting of all commissioners. 2) Why would Mr. Rader make a presentation of any kind regarding the Chief of Police to other MPD officers once this scandal broke? I have my own ideas of why someone would take such an improper action, and that would be to prevent further investigation/scrutiny. I will give Mr. Rader his due, I don't think he is that stupid to inject himself/reputation into this thing unless the stakes weren't so high. He is arrogant enough to think he can beat this thing, but if the findings indicate any kind of criminal behavior on the part of the "post" Chief of Police, Mr. Rader could face questions regarding obstruction/tampering, etc. At the least he has acted contrary to what I think is responsible and proper for any elected official. Either way, the next election cycle will have Mr. Rader "back in the cheap seats" with us, the average taxpayer.
There appears to be a great deal of interest, possibly excitement, associated with the meeting Frank Rader has agreed to attend.
At this point, it is impossible to predict how many others will be there.
Some of you have met and dealt with the Commissioner at Large, but there will be others, maybe the majority, who know of him because of articles he has written, or that have been written about him.
I know him, and have debated and argued with him face to face and through e-mails, and would like to share some thoughts with those who are planning to meet with him.
1. He has difficulty focusing. In this regard, he will answer questions that have not been asked! He hears differently than what is said.
2. When he talks about budgets, expenses, money, and, his favorite, Rader Math, it is important for you to understand he seems to believes .01% is 1%.
3. When he sits back in his chair, before he begins to talk, you can be certain of two things. – a) the outpouring will be drivel, and, b) he has gone into a pathological trance.
4. His practice of answering questions with questions, is designed to protect his intellectual dishonesty, and his lack of comprehension.
5. He is excellent in the art of deception. Why else would he hide the Golf Course expenses in other Town cost centers?
6. His sense and understanding of “reality” is confined to his momentary consciousness.
If you have read the above, your questions need to be thoughtful. It might even help if you begin each one – “Frank. Are you there?”
You have our best wishes for a successful exchange. I have applied for the Soft Drink and Popcorn concession.
Cordially,
Harold Salisbury
“To those much given, much is required.” It is not “To those much given, much is owed.” I don't know where Frank went wrong. I've watched him since he was a little boy, and he has been given much from his birth until this day. It is sad to see how recklessly he has treated the hardearned tax dollars of the working men and women of his town. It is sad to see how he is unwilling even to drive his own car for town business or pay for his own fitness center and for his own golf games. Frank has always been "tight", this we've known. But now I see that he is "tight" with his own money and "carefree" with ours. I don't understand that.
There's a great Navajo proverb that says "You can't wake a person who is pretending to be asleep." It's talking about people like Frank Rader.
I never perfected the art of "suffering fools", so I won't be there tomorrow night. Just glad somebody else will be holding Rader's feet to the fire. He's finally being exposed for what he is. He had it coming. My advice is you videotape everything because Rader's used to lying through his teeth and getting away with it.
Commissioner At Large Frank Rader’s coining of the phrase “Investigattons” is a clear attempt to scoff at and patronize those who participated in or supported the investigations of the former chief of police. The fact that he has done so under the guise of keeping the “public informed” via his Rader at Large mass mailing adds insults to injury.
His actions are reminiscent of other former officials, such as former town manager Rick McLean, former mayors Joe Knox and Al Jones, and several former commissioners who were in the habit of publicly mocking community activists and local investigative reporters. I had the misfortune of being in their company on several occasions when this occurred. They remained oblivious, as does Mr. Rader, to how poorly their words reflected upon them and the lasting effect it had on observers such as myself.
As an example, there was a time in the not-so-distant past when it was acceptable to use derogatory terms to describe people of different race, sex, and origin. Those days are blessedly gone. Such is the case in Mooresville where public dissent is concerned. It is no longer acceptable to poke fun at those who choose to exercise their right to question public officials and their actions.
Times have changed. Yes, even in this little town of ours. Mr. Rader would do well to remember that.
Harold,
I laughed until I had tears rolling down my cheeks! You should be doing stand-up my man.hilarious...
This man has the intelligence of a gnat on a good day. To call him a pompous jackass is an insult to hard-working pack animals everywhere. He is supposedly highly educated yet cannot even compose a simple paragraph without using run-on sentences and fragments. His thoughts are incoherent both in person and on paper. I sincerely hope that the press is there in force with video cameras to capture his own special brand of mental illness and delusions. What do the rest of the commissioners think of this "discourse"? I think the idiot thinks he's back on the debate team again about to trample the opponent. Doesn't he realize that he is a public servant??? I think the cam man should capture this idiocy for all of NC to see and when the town is further shamed by this nut, maybe he'll be encouraged behind closed doors(the good 'ol boy way) to resign. It sounds to me like he could benefit from some anti-psychotic drugs.
ATTENTION Surrounding Towns and Countys:Free to a good home, Frank Rader. PS we will pay you to take him, please.
I'm catching up on The Blog. Is this Rader guy for real or is this some kind of joke? Serious.
10:16
Frank thinks we're a joke, and yes he is for real unfortunately. He is actually scoffing at voters who are demanding the truth about the mismanagement in our town government. Frank thinks that in a battle of wits the rest of us are unarmed. He is a smug, ignorant, rude,narscicistic idiot who thinks he has matriculated down from royal lineage.
Has anyone checked between Frank's shoulders for a microchip? He might have fallen off his home planet. That insidious bowtie is undoubtedly some kind of device to prevent him from burning up upon re-entry.Better yet, open up the forehead. I'll bet there it an itst bitsy little alien manning the controls like a trojan horse.Maybe those guys from M.I.B. can help!
Larry, I am glad that you took the advise to attend tomorrow night's meeting. I don't think you will ever get the e-mail answers you want and Frank would hold you accountable for your absence.
As far as his questions go, there's no doubt he will try to drill you about being a full-time pastor and twist it to put you in a negative light. I'm sure you can handle yourself, but I for one think it is a pastor's duty to stand up for what is right. You are doing a tremendous service to not only your congregation but to all of Mooresville by refusing to back down in the face of "dirty politics".
Many of us have known that the ToM did not have the citizens best interests in mind, but few of us have stood up to make a difference. Thanks to you and others who will fight for the good of all!
I plan to bring my children as I think this will be the best example of small town politics gone bad they could ever see, and they will learn that it takes leaders of great courage to fight until justice for the people is done.
This is a great lesson to children. Doing the right thing is often not easy, especially in the face of very public adversity. However, without people like you and the Salisbury's taking a stand injustice would continue.
It is right and just to stand up and not tolerate abuse of governmental positions.
Here's the deal:
1. Frank's rules should be ignored. If you want to ask a question and not reveal your city of residence, feel free to decline to state it. And if you can't finish your question in less than a minute, then keep talking until your have finished.
2. Demand honesty from Frank. If his answers are bullshit, shout it out, loud and clear. Demand that he be honest or don't allow him to speak. It's justt hat simple.
3. If Frank tries to put on a dog and pony show, simply stand up, interrupt him, and tell him that it is time for him to understand that he is employed, as it were, by us, not the other way around.
The bottom line: Frank may have arranged the time and place for this meeting, but it is not his meeting. It is the people's meeting. We are in charge. He needs to learn that, one way or another. It is our job to teach him.
I have witnessed with dismay and disappointment the condescending and dismissive manner in which Commissioner Frank Rader treats the media and the public. I agree with the person who wrote before me. Ultimately, we train people how to treat us, including elected officials. If we find ourselves mistreated by those public officials, we must accept the responsibility that somewhere along the line we have collectively trained them to mistreat us. It is now time for us to demand to be treated differently. It is time to reclaim the intrinsic powers granted to us as citizens living in a free society where government answers to the people, and not the other way around.
It is now time for us to demand to be treated differently. It is time to reclaim the intrinsic powers granted to us as citizens living in a free society where government answers to the people, and not the other way around.
Thats all I'm saying
Tic Toc
I agree with the sentiment that the continued Analysis Paralysis of the town board with regard to Mr. Erskine Smith calls for Civil Disobedience in Mooresville. As Mrs. Gatton stated earlier in this blog, we are each but one, but still we are one. I, for one, plan on participating in such Civil Disobedience beginning today in various manners of my own choosing. I hope others will join me in their own ways.
August 25, 2008 1:54 PM wrote that
"The Foundation for Excellence for Education is getting into the golf fundraising business. Can you guess who is on the board of directors of that corporation?"
I have several guesses, but I would really like to know who it is. Is it Rader or is it Erskine?
http://www.mgsd.k12.nc.us/16231011775228870/site/default.asp
Look up the Foundation for yourself and get involved!!
I don't understand for the life of me why we need an "Assistant" Town Manager here. Even if we could say that the two last town managers were incompetent and needed an "assistant", then why give them another incompetent for an "assistant"? Now that we are supposedly finally getting a competent (hopefully) town manager, there's even less need for an "assistant". No matter how you cut this case, we need to get rid of that position and save ourselves a bunch of money.
I second that!
BTW, 8:59, the answer is BOTH! It's the Usual Suspects grouped together involved with the (you guessed it!) GOLF COURSE again. History repeating itself? There are more than one (or two) staunch Crone supporters on that so-called board, too. Go figure.
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